Device for holding and releasing the terminal in wire-like object take-up apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device for holding and releasing the terminal of a wire-like object in a take-up apparatus of the wire-like object, wherein a blank bobbin is rotatably supported and is rotated to take up the wire-like object, and the bobbin taking up the wire-like object is replaced with another blank bobbin when it is filled in order to continue the take-up operation, characterized in that when the blank bobbin is being mounted in the wire-like object take-up apparatus, a pawl engageable with the wire-like object is actuated into a condition for holding it, and when the bobbin fully wound with the wire-like object is to be removed from the wire-like object take-up apparatus, the pawl is concurrently released, to thereby allow for automatic handling of the terminal of the wire-like object in the mounting and removal of the respective bobbins.

llnited States Patent [191 lliegarni et al.

in] 3,831,871 Aug. 27, 1974 DEVlCE FOR HOLDING AND RELEASING THE TERIVHNAL 1N WIRE-LIKE UBJECT TAKE-UP APPARATUS [75} lnventors: Yoshio lkegami; Tadashi Kohge,

both of Kobe, Japan [73] Assignee: Kobe Steel, lno, Kobe, Japan [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 362,285

Brown 242/25 A Primary Examiner-John W. Hucikert Assistant Examiner-Milton S. Getstein Attorney, Agent, or FirmOb1on, Fisher, Spivak, McClelland & Maier ABSTRACT A device for holding and releasing the terminal of a wire-like object in a take-up apparatus of the wire-like object, wherein a blank bobbin is rotatably supported and is rotated to take up the wire-like object, and the bobbin taking up the wire-like object is replaced with another blank bobbin when it is filled in order to continue the take-up operation, characterized in that when the blank bobbin is being mounted in the wirelike object take-up apparatus, a pawl engageable with the wire-like'object is actuated into a condition for holding it, and when the bobbin fully wound with the wire-like object is to be removed from the wire-like object take-up apparatus, the pawl is concurrently released, to thereby allow for automatic handling of the terminal of the wire-like object in the mounting and removal of the respective bobbins.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR HOLDHNG AND RELEASING THE TERMINAL IN WERE-LIKE OBJECT TAKE-UP APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has heretofore been known in the taking-up of a wire-like object, that two bobbins may be rotated, and one being a blank bobbin is disposed adjacent the flow of the wire-like object being fed to the other bobbin being fully wound therewith, such that a pawl provided at the periphery of the blank bobbin for rotating therewith may thereby permit winding the wire-like object around the blank bobbin without stopping it. However, since it is not usually possible to attach the pawl to the bobbin, but the pawl is attached to a rotary portion of the take-up apparatus, when the fully wound bobbin is being removed from the take-up apparatus, and the coil of the wire-like object is taken out, it often happens that the terminal of the wire-like object is retained in engagement with the pawl to thereby adversely affect the replacement of the fully wound bobbin, and especially when automatic replacement of the bobbin is contemplated does the handling of this terminal of the wire-like object pose a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve this problem, to permit automating the handling of the terminal of a wire-like object being wound on bobbins in take-up apparatus of the character described A further object is to attain an effective automation in the replacement of fully wound bsbbins in take-up apparatus of wire-like objects.

The present invention provides a device for holding and releasing the terminal in the take-up apparatus of a wire-like object, characterized in that it incluces a rotary disc for supporting a bobbin on one side thereof and rotating therewith, a bobbin pushing shaft rotatable about the axis of rotation of the rotary disc and movable toward and away from the rotary disc, a projecting member movably mounted through an elastic member on the rotary disc adjacent the bobbin, and a pawl connected to the projecting member to hold and release the wire-like object corresponding to the advancement and retraction of the projecting member, whereby the bobbin is mounted between the bobbin pushing shaft and the rotary disc, and when the bobbin pushing shaft is advanced, the bobbin pushes the projecting member to thereby actuate the pawl to hold the wire-like object, and when the bobbin is removed from the rotary disc, the pawl releases the wire-like object. Further, in order to attain an effective operation of the device, the front end portion of the bobbin pushing shaft and the central portion of the rotary disc opposing the bobbin pushing shaft and the central portion of the rotary disc opposing the bobbin pushing shaft are conically formed. Thereby, the bobbin is correctly mounted on the axis of rotation of the rotary disc and is moved automatically and smoothly to a proper position to thereby assure operation of the projecting member, that is, the holding and releasing of the wire-like object by the pawl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. l is a schematic view shown in section and illustrating an embodiment of the device of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, a bobbin 1 for taking up a wire-like object 6 is rotatably mounted between a bobbin pushing shaft 3 and a rotary disc 2, being coaxial therewith. The bobbin pushing shaft 3 is rotatably connected through a bearing 7 to a hydraulic cylinder 8', and is arranged to move toward and away from the rotary disc 2 along a line coincident with its axis. The rotary disc 2 is connected to a motor 9 through a shaft thereof and is supported rotatably thereby. The rotary disc 2 is provided on its side facing the bobbin I with an opening having a pin ill projecting therethrough and being urged by a spring 10 compressed between a flange on the pin and the disc to its limit of projection, wherein it is received in a hole 12 provided in the bobbin l for the purpose of transmitting the force of rotation from the motor 9 to the bobbin. Further, the rotary disc 2 is provided on its side facing away from the bobbin 1 with a projecting member 4 which is resiliently movable toward and away from the bobbin 1 through a spring 13 disposed between the disc and a portion of the projecting member on the end. thereof opposite the projecting end, or the front end thereof. A ball 14, positioned at the front of the projecting member 4, is movable toward and away therefrom through a compressible spring 15 disposed between the ball 14 and the projecting member 4. A pawl 5 is movably provided at the periphery of the rotary disc 2, being connected to the projecting member 4, and is arranged such that it can take a position wherein it engages the wire-like object 6 when the projecting member 4 is pushed in the direction away from the side of the bobbin 1, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, while it can take a position to release the wire-like object 6 when the projecting member 4 projects in the direction of the bobbin 1, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2.

The operation of the wire-like object take-up device of this invention will now be described. The hydraulic cylinder 8 is first operated to retract the bobbinpushing shaft 3, and the bobbin 1 is then disposed between the rotary disc 2 and the bobbin-pushing shaft 3, whereupon the hydraulic cylinder 8 is re-operated to advance the bobbin-pushing shaft 3 toward the rotary disc 3. Before completion of this. advancing step, the motor 9 is slightly rotated to insert the pin ll] of the disc 2 into the hole 12 of the bobbin. When the advancing step has been completed, since the front end portion 16 of the bobbin-pushing shaft 3 and the central portion 17 of the rotary disc 2 opposing the bobbinpushing shaft 3 are conically formed, the bobbin 1 is accurately mounted on a predetermined axis of rotation, and further pushes .the projecting member 4 through the ball 14 and the spring 15 to thereby place the pawl 5 in the condition for engaging the wire-like object 6. The bobbin ll rotates with the rotary disc 2,

and when the wire-like object 6 is displaced to a position 6' for passing through the pawl 5, the pawl engages the wire-like object 6 to thereby begin the take up of the wire-like object 6.

When the bobbin 1 has been fully wound with the wire-like object 6, the terminal of the wire-like object 6 is severed, and rotation of the bobbin 1 is terminated. When the hydraulic cylinder 8 is then operated to retract the bobbin-pushing shaft 3, the bobbin 1 moves away from the rotary disc 2 and the projecting member 4 is projected forwardly by the force of the spring 13. Thus, the pawl 5 releases the take-up beginning end of the wire-like object 6 with which it is engaged at the be ginning of take-up. Thus, the pawl 5 operates in synchronism with the mounting of the bobbin 1, and automatically holds and releases the end of the object.

Because of the construction of the device of the present invention, the device accurately operates even when the rotary disc 2 rotates at a very high speed, without any complication of the device. It also facilitates automation of the mounting and removal of the bobbin 1. Since the ball 14 is provided as a contact member and is supported by the spring 15 as an adjusting elastic member, the holding force of the pawl 5 is stable, and the mounting of the bobbin 1 is smoothly performed.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of these teachings. It is to be understood therefore that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a take-up apparatus of a wire-like object, wherein a blank bobbin is rotatably supported and rotated to take up the wire-like object, and the bobbin after being fully wound with the wire-like object is replaced with another blank bobbin to continue the takeup operation, a device for holding and releasing the terminal of the wire-like object, characterized in that the device comprises:

a rotary disc for supporting the bobbin on the side thereof and being rotatable therewtih;

a bobbin-pushing shaft mounted to be rotatable about the same axis of rotation as said rotary disc and to be movable toward and away from said rotary disc;

a projecting member movably disposed on said rotary disc adjacent the bobbin for movement along a line parallel to said axis of rotation of said rotary disc;

first elastic means for urging said projecting member to move in the direction of said bobbin;

a contact member movably disposed on said projecting member adjacent the bobbin for movement along a line parallel to the line of movement of said projecting member;

second elastic means for urging said contact member to move in the direction of said bobbin; and

a pawl connected to said projecting member to hold the wire-like object between said pawl and said rotary disc and to release the wire-like object, respectively corresponding to the movement of said projecting member in the direction away from and in the direction toward said bobbin, whereby when the bobbin is mounted between said bobbinpushing shaft and said rotary disc and said bobbinpushing shaft is advanced toward said rotary disc for rotatably supporting the bobbin therebetween, the bobbin pushes said contact member and said projecting member in the direction away therefrom to thereby actuate the pawl to hold the wire-like object, and when the bobbin is removed from said rotary disc, said pawl releases the wire-like object.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the front end portion of the bobbin-pushing shaft and the central portion of the rotary disc opposing the bobbin-pushing shaft are conically formed.

3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a pin on said rotary disc movably mounted through an elastic member and engageable with said bobbin for fixing the bobbin to the rotary disc.

41. A device according to claim 11, wherein said contact member is spherical.

=1 =i= l= l 

1. In a take-up apparatus of a wire-like object, wherein a blank bobbin is rotatably supported and rotated to take up the wirelike object, and the bobbin after being fully wound with the wire-like object is replaced with another blank bobbin to continue the take-up operation, a device for holding and releasing the terminal of the wire-like object, characterized in that the device comprises: a rotary disc for supporting the bobbin on the side thereof and being rotatable therewtih; a bobbin-pushing shaft mounted to be rotatable about the same axis of rotation as said rotary disc and to be movable toward and away from said rotary disc; a projecting member movably disposed on said rotary disc adjacent the bobbin for movement along a line parallel to said axis of rotation of said rotary disc; first elastic means for urging said projecting member to move in the direction of said bobbin; a contact member movably disposed on said projecting member adjacent the bobbin for movement along a line parallel to the line of movement of said projecting member; second elastic means for urging said contact member to move in the direction of said bobbin; and a pawl connected to said projecting member to hold the wire-like object between said pawl and said rotary disc and to release the wire-like object, respectively corresponding to the movement of said projecting member in the direction away from and in the direction toward said bobbin, whereby when the bobbin is mounted between said bobbin-pushing shaft and said rotary disc and said bobbin-pushing shaft is advanced toward said rotary disc for rotatably supporting the bobbin therebetween, the bobbin pushes said contact member and said projecting member in the direction away therefrom to thereby actuate the pawl to hold the wire-like object, and when the bobbin is removed from said rotary disc, said pawl releases the wire-like object.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the front end portion of the bobbin-pushing shaft and the central portion of the rotary disc opposing the bobbin-pushing shaft are conically formed.
 3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a pin on said rotary disc movably mounted through an elastic member and engageable with said bobbin for fixing the bobbin to the rotary disc.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said contact memBer is spherical. 